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Media walls and TV units
A media wall is a stud-framed feature wall with the television recessed into it, usually with an electric fire below and cables hidden inside. A fitted media wall typically runs £1,500 to £4,000 depending on the width, the fire, and whether the finish is plastered or panelled.
What it costs. A fitted media wall costs £1,500 to £4,000. Full cost breakdown for media walls.
What the job covers
- Stud-framed media walls with recessed TV
- Electric fire and hearth openings
- Cable management and power routing
- Integrated shelving and lighting
- Plastered and painted finish, ready to decorate
What is involved
The carpentry is a timber or metal stud frame built off the existing wall, deep enough to swallow the TV, the fire and the cable runs. That depth is the design decision: 150mm is enough for a slim fire and a flat mount, 250mm or more if the fire is inset or the TV needs a swing bracket. Noggins go in wherever something will be screwed to the wall later, because a TV bracket into plasterboard alone is a repair waiting to happen.
Heat and power are what separate a good media wall from a bad one. Electric fires need a stated clearance above the opening, and a TV mounted straight above a fire without that gap will run hot. Sockets go inside the void with a spur, which is electrician's work and needs to be planned before the frame is closed up. Conduit for HDMI and power is cheap at frame stage and impossible afterwards.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask where the sockets will sit and who is doing the electrical work. Ask what clearance the chosen fire needs and confirm the TV position respects it. Ask whether they will run spare conduit, because the cost is minutes now and a day later.
Common questions
How deep does a media wall need to be?
Usually 150mm to 250mm. A slim electric fire and a flat TV mount fit in 150mm; an inset fire, a tilting bracket or a soundbar recess push it deeper.
Can I put a TV above an electric fire?
Yes, if the manufacturer's clearance is respected. Most electric fires vent forward and upward and state a minimum distance to anything mounted above.
Does a media wall need building regulations?
A non-structural stud wall built against an existing wall does not. The electrical work inside it is notifiable in some circumstances, which is a question for the electrician.
Plastered or panelled finish?
Plaster gives a seamless painted wall and is the more common choice. Panelling and slatted timber hide movement better and are easier to adapt later.